Dependent and independent variables

A variable is considered dependent if it depends on (or is hypothesized to depend on) an independent variable. Dependent variables are studied under the supposition or demand that they depend, by some law or rule (e.g., by a mathematical function), on the values of other variables. Independent variables, on the other hand, are not seen as depending on any other variable in the scope of the experiment in question.^[a] Rather, they are controlled by the experimenter.

In single variable calculus, a function is typically graphed with the horizontal axis representing the independent variable and the vertical axis representing the dependent variable.^[1] In this function, y is the dependent variable and x is the independent variable.

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

^ Hastings, Nancy Baxter (1998). Workshop calculus: guided exploration with review. Vol. 2. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 31.

[2] Hastings, Nancy Baxter (1998). Workshop calculus: guided exploration with review. Vol. 2. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 31.

[a]

[1]